National Pedestrian Crash Report
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The purpose of this technical report is to analyze the latest trends in pedestrian fatalities and police-reported motor vehicle crashes involving a pedestrian in the United States since 1997. Key findings in the report are: Pedestrian fatalities declined between 1997 and 2006. However, the probability of a pedestrian fatality in a crash increased while the probability of a pedestrian crash declined. About two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities were in urban areas. Of the nearly 42,500 cities or towns listed according the U.S. Geographic Location Codes by the General Services Administration, only 13% of them accounted for those pedestrian fatalities in urban areas. Nationwide, nearly two pedestrians died in vehicle crashes per 100,000 population, and a pedestrian crash death occurred every 70 million miles walked. January 1 and October 31 were the two most deadly days of the year, having the highest number of pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrians are more likely to be killed in a crash between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. or during the weekend on Saturday or Sunday. Males have a much higher probability than females to be killed in a crash. The older age group (over 64) has a much greater possibility than other age groups to be killed in a crash. As a pedestrian's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases, the probability of a pedestrian getting killed in a crash increases. Pedestrians have a higher possibility to be killed in non-speeding conditions than in speeding conditions based on fatality per crash. Pedestrians are more likely to be killed in a crash under a sleet condition than under any other weather condition based on fatality per crash. Pedestrians have a higher probability to be killed in a crash under a dark condition than under other light conditions. With regard to posted speed limits, the higher the posted speed limit, the higher the probability of a pedestrian fatality.
